“Serious injury claims the lives of nearly 10,000 children in the U.S. every year, and many more children survive that need critical medical attention,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and co-founder of the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma. “Budget shortfalls have forced health care providers to choose more general types of training, but when medical personnel are appropriately trained to meet the needs of pediatric patients there is a better outcome for injured kids. We are grateful to The NASCAR Foundation for recognizing the importance of funding education for the people that provide care to injured children when they need it the most.”

With the help of funds from The NASCAR Foundation, the Childress Institute facilitated the Pediatric Fundamental Critical Care Support (PFCCS) course for physicians, physician extenders, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other health care professionals. This program provides the vital tools needed to recognize a child’s need for critical care, especially when a pediatric specialist is not available.

“The NASCAR Foundation is committed to providing enhanced medical care to children in need, particularly in our racing communities,” said Lorene King, executive director of The NASCAR Foundation. “We understand the value and benefit of continuing medical education courses and are proud to provide this training for health care providers that will better the quality of care for pediatric trauma patients.”

The NASCAR Foundation and the Childress Institute have also partnered to produce a co-branded fleece blanket that will be distributed to injured children in hospitals throughout the U.S. The organizations hope to raise awareness about the need to ensure high-quality care no matter how or where a child is injured, as well as provide comfort and support for the children and their families during their hospital stay. Several RCR teams and other NASCAR personalities have offered their support to distribute these blankets at children’s hospitals during the racing season, including a recent visit by RCR NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Austin Dillon to Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

The Childress Institute’s goal is to lead national efforts to reduce death and disability following injury to children less than 18 years of age. It is dedicated to improving outcomes for critically-injured children across the U.S. by investing resources in research, education and awareness. The Institute helps injured kids get the best care, when they need it the most.

To learn more about The NASCAR Foundation, visit www.NASCAR.com/foundation, www.facebook.com/NASCARfoundation, or, follow on Twitter @NASCAR_FDN. To learn more about the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, visit www.InjuredKids.org, or find the Childress Institute via social media on Twitter @injuredkids, www.facebook.com/ChildressPediatricTrauma and www.YouTube.com/ChildressInstitute.